Song of Solomon 4:15 — Word Study
WLCמַעְיַ֣ן גַּנִּ֔ים בְּאֵ֖ר מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֑ים וְנֹזְלִ֖ים מִן־ לְבָנֽוֹן׃
BSAYou are a gardengan [fountain of gardens, a source of delight] springmaʻyân [a well of living waters, a source of refreshment] a wellbᵉʼêr [a fountain, a source of satisfaction] of freshchay [living, life-giving] watermayim [a spring or watercourse] flowing downnâzal [to flow, like a stream or flood] frommin [originating in, coming from the mountains of] LebanonLᵉbânôwn [a mountain range in Israel, known for its beauty and majesty]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַעְיַ֣ן | a spring of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| גַּנִּ֔ים | gardens | Noun common, both plural absolute |
| בְּאֵ֖ר | a well of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| מַ֣יִם | water | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| חַיִּ֑ים | living | Adj |
| וְנֹזְלִ֖ים | and flowing | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| לְבָנֽוֹן׃ | Lebanon | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon. |
| KJV | A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. |
| ASV | Thou art a fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And flowing streams from Lebanon. |
| YLT | A fount of gardens, a well of living waters, And flowings from Lebanon! |
| WEB | a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, flowing streams from Lebanon. |
| BBE | You are a fountain of gardens, a spring of living waters, and flowing waters from Lebanon. |
Where they part company is מַעְיַן — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has one main clause with two descriptive phrases that elaborate on the beloved's qualities.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 4:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Celebration of Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 4:15 describes the beloved as a source of life and refreshment, likening her to a spring and a well. This passage is part of a larger poetic expression of love, where the speaker admires the beauty and vitality of the beloved, emphasizing the joy and satisfaction she brings.
The Key Word — מַעְיַן, ma'.Yangenerated
The word מַעְיַן (ma'yan) refers to a spring or fountain, indicating a source of water. It can also symbolize satisfaction and joy. The term is derived from a root meaning to spring forth, which highlights its connection to life and vitality.
In this verse, it emphasizes the beloved's role as a source of refreshment and delight, suggesting that she brings joy and sustenance to the speaker's life.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb נֹזְלִ֖ים (flowing) governs the entire phrase, with several noun phrases describing the beloved's qualities. The structure emphasizes the beloved's multifaceted nature as a source of life and beauty.
The Hebrew word order places significance on the descriptions, with the main action of flowing highlighting the dynamic nature of the beloved's qualities.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מַעְיַן as πηγὴ (pēgē), which also means 'spring' or 'fountain'. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the imagery of a life-giving source.
The use of πηγὴ suggests a consistent interpretation of the beloved as a source of refreshment, aligning with the overall theme of vitality in the passage.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 4:15 describes the beloved as a refreshing garden spring and a well of living water. This imagery highlights her beauty and the joy she brings, emphasizing her role as a source of life and satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The term 'spring' symbolizes a source of refreshment and joy, indicating that the beloved brings vitality and satisfaction.
This verse emphasizes the beauty and desirability of the beloved, which is a central theme throughout the Song of Solomon.
Lebanon is known for its majestic mountains, and its mention enhances the imagery of beauty and freshness associated with the beloved.
Water imagery often represents life, refreshment, and sustenance, highlighting the beloved's role as a source of joy and vitality.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I experience refreshment and joy in my relationships?
- How can I embody the qualities of being a source of life and vitality for others?
- What does it mean to me to be compared to a spring or a well?
- How does the imagery in this verse deepen my understanding of love and beauty?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, flowing streams from Lebanon.
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
Tyndale line
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Thou art a fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And flowing streams from Lebanon.
Thou art a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
O fountaine of the gardens, O well of liuing waters, and the springs of Lebanon.
Strictly literal
A fountain in the gardens, A well of living waters, Which stream from Lebanon.
A fount of gardens, a well of living waters, And flowings from Lebanon!
A fount of gardens, a well of living waters, || And flowings from Lebanon!
A garden-spring, a well of living waters, and flowing down from Lebanon.—
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, streams flowing down from Lebanon.
From the Latin
The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus.
Simplified
You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, a flowing stream from Lebanon.
You are a fountain of gardens, a spring of living waters, and flowing waters from Lebanon.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording, with both texts conveying the same essential imagery of the beloved as a spring and a well. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration but align with the Masoretic Text's core message.
מַעְיַ֣ן גַּנִּ֔ים בְּאֵ֖ר מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֑ים וְנֹזְלִ֖ים מִן־ לְבָנֽוֹן׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[מעין] [גנים] [באר] [מים] חיים ונוזלים מן [לבנון]
1 word on the leather — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 4:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מַעְיָן (ma`yan) means 'spring' and refers to a source of water, such as a fountain or well. It can also be used figuratively to denote a source of satisfaction. The word is derived from a root meaning to spring forth, and it appears in contexts like Psalm 114:8.
מַעְיָן n.m. spring
base
H4599 מַעְיָן spring
4599 ma`yan mah-yawn'
or ma ynow (Psa. 114:8) {mah-yen-o'}; or (feminine) ma yanah
{mah-yaw-naw'}; from 5869 (as a denominative in the sense of a
spring); a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a
source (of satisfaction):--fountain, spring, well.
see HEBREW for 05869
מַעְיָן (ma.yan) — spring.
spring
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
גַּן (gan) means 'garden' or 'enclosure' and can refer to a physical garden or, figuratively, to a bride. It is derived from a root meaning to fence in. The term is used in various contexts, including the Garden of Eden and specific locations like Beth-haggan.
גַּן n.m. & f. enclosure, garden
base
H1588 גַּן enclosure, garden
1588 gan gan
from 1598; a garden (as fenced):--garden.
see HEBREW for 01598
גַּן (gan) — Garden (of Uzza).
This name means garden, enclosure
גַּן (gan) — (Beth)-haggan.
Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "Beth" H1004H)
גַּן (gan) — garden.
1) garden, enclosure
1a) enclosed garden
1a1) (fig. of a bride)
1b) garden (of plants)
1c) Garden of Eden
N-cp — Noun common · both plural absoluteHNcbpa
Gardens
Mentioned in Scripture, of Eden (Gen. 2:8, 9); Ahab’s garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2 Kings 21:18); the royal garden at Susa (Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:41); of Gethsemane (John 18:1).
The “king’s garden” mentioned 2 Kings 25:4, Neh. 3:15, was near the Pool of Siloam.
Are often mentioned in Scripture, though in a sense somewhat peculiar; for in the language of the Hebrews, every place where plants and trees were cultivated with greater care than in the open field, was called a garden. Fruit and shade trees, with aromatic shrubs, sometimes constituted the garden; though roses, lilies, and various gardens were used only for table vegetables, Ge 2:8-10 15:1-21 1Ki 21:2 Ec 2:5,6. They were located if possible beside a river or fountain, Ge 13:10 Nu 24:6. In other places reservoirs were provided, from which the water was distributed in various ways, as occasion required,
בְּאֵר (be'er) refers to a well or pit, often created by digging. It can denote a spring as well. The term appears in Genesis 26:21 and is also used as a proper noun for a location in the desert, situated north of Eleutheropolis.
בְּאֵר n.f. Gn 26:21 well, pit
a well, often as made by digging
pit
as n.pr.loc.
a station of Isr. in desert
8 miles north of Eleutheropolis
base
H875 בְּאֵר well, pit
875 'er be-ayr'
from 874; a pit; especially a well:--pit, well.
see HEBREW for 0874
בְּאֵר (be.er) — well.
well, pit, spring
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):
(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.
(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.
(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…
See CISTERN and WELLS.
In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare
→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5
→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9
→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11
→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20
→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5
→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
Adj — AdjHAampa
נָזַל (nazal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to flow or trickle. It encompasses various forms of flowing, including distilling and shedding liquid. The term appears in both the Qal and Hiphil stems, indicating both a simple action of flowing and causing something to flow. The poetic usage suggests a rich imagery associated with water and movement.
[נָזַל] vb. flow, trickle, drop, distil (poet.)
Qal
flow
distil
Hiph. cause to flow
base
H5140 [נָזַל] flow, trickle, drop, distil (poet.)
5140 nazal naw-zal'
a primitive root; to drip, or shed by trickling:--distil,
drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour
(down), running water, stream.
נָזַל (na.zal) — to flow.
1) to flow, distil, flow forth or down, trickle, drop
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flow
1a1a) streams, floods (participle)
1a2) to distil
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to flow
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHC/Vqrmpa
The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.
מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal
from, against
מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
of position, off, on the side of, on
Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
Partitively
Of time—
as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
towards, to
(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
In comparisons, beyond, above
מן is prefixed to an infin.:
with causal force, from, on account of, through
after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
with a temporal force, since, after
Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
In compounds:
base
H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against
. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
. of position, off, on the side of, on
. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
. Partitively
. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
. towards, to
. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
. In comparisons, beyond, above
. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through
. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
. with a temporal force, since, after
. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
4480 min min
or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)
{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;
hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as
follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason
of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,
since, X then, through, X whether, with.
see HEBREW for 04482
מִן־ (min) — from.
prep
1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than
1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of
1b) out of
1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)
1b2) (of material from which something is made)
1b3) (of source or origin)
1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)
1d) from, since, after (of time)
1e) than, more than (in comparison)
1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or
1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)
1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)
conj
2) that
Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
מֵן (men) — portion.
n.m.
portion
Prep — PrepositionHR
לְבָנוֹן (le.van.on) refers to Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine known for its whiteness, likely due to its snow-capped peaks. The term is derived from a root meaning 'white' and is associated with various geographical features, including valleys and houses in the region. It appears in contexts describing the northern border of Israel.
לְבָנוֹן 71 n.pr.mont. Lebanon
base
H3844 לְבָנוֹן Lebanon
3844 Lbanown leb-aw-nohn'
from 3825; (the) white mountain (from its snow); Lebanon, a
mountain range in Palestine:--Lebanon.
see HEBREW for 03825
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — Lebanon.
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (Mount) Lebanon.
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (Valley of) Lebanon.
Combined with biq.ah (בִּקְעָה " Valley" H1237I)
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (House of the Forest of) Lebanon.
Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "House" H1004K)
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
leb'-a-non (lebanon; Septuagint Libanos; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Libanus):
1. Name:
Derived from the root labhen, "to be white," probably from the snow which covers its summits the greater part of the year. "White mountains" are found in almost every country. The light color of the upper limestone may, however, form a sufficient reason for the name. In prose the article is usually connected with the name. In poetry it is more often without the article. In the Septuagint, however, the article is generally present both in prose and poetry.
2. General Description:
The Lebanon range proper borders the east coast of the Mediterranean, for a distance of 100 miles, running North-Northeast and South-Southwest from the mouth of the Litany river, the classic Leontes (which enters the sea a little North of Tyre), to the mouth of the Eleuthurus (Nahr el-Kebir), a few miles North of…
Lebanon
White, “the white mountain of Syria,” is the loftiest and most celebrated mountain range in Syria. It is a branch running southward from the Caucasus, and at its lower end forking into two parallel ranges, the eastern or Anti-Lebanon, and the western or Lebanon proper. They enclose a long valley (Josh. 11:17) of from 5 to 8 miles in width, called by Roman writers Coele-Syria, now called el-Buka’a, “the valley,” a prolongation of the valley of the Jordan.
Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends north-east, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, “the entering of Hamath” (Num. 34:8;
a mountain range in the north of Palestine. The name Lebanon signifies white, and was applied either on account of snow which, during a great part of the year, cover its whole summit, or on account of the white color of its limestone cliffs and peaks. It is the "white mountain" --the Mont Blane of Palestine. Lebanon is represented in Scripture as lying upon the northern border of the land of Israel. (1:7; 11:24; Joshua 1:4) Two distinct ranges bear this name. They run in parallel lines from southwest to northeast for about 90 geographical miles, enclosing between them a long, fertile valley from five to eight miles wide, anciently called Coele-Syria . The western range is the "Libanus" of the old geographers and the Lebanon of Scripture. The eastern range was called "Anti-Libanus" by geographers, and "Lebanon toward the sunrising" by…
White, a long chain of mountains on the north of Palestine, so named from the whitish limestone of which they are composed and in part perhaps from their snowy whiteness in winter. It consists of two main ridges running northeast and southwest, nearly parallel with each other and with the coast of the Mediterranean. See view in SIDON. The western ridge was called Libanus by the Greeks, and the eastern AntiLibanus. Between them lies a long valley called Coele-Syria, that is, Hollow Syria, and the "valley of Lebanon," Jos 11:17, at present Bukkah. It opens towards the north, but is exceedingly narrow towards the south, where the river Litany, anciently Orontes, issues form the valley and flows west to the sea, north of Tyre. The western ridge is generally higher than the eastern, and several of its peaks are thought to be towards…